Summer 2019: Cover Crops Provide Multiple Benefits

Humboldt County farmer Doug Adams had a plan A for the spring planting season, but wet conditions forced him to make some adjustments. Despite less-than-ideal weather so far this growing season, he’s optimistic corn and soybeans have near-trend yield potential.

Corn planting began April 22 and wrapped up May 16. He made it a priority to get the corn planted on a new piece of land, which is a wet farm and was tilled in the fall by the previous owner. He planted it first because it was mostly dry early in the spring, and being across the road from his house gave him the ability to fill in wet spots later. But that’s the only piece of ground that was planted in April. “We had rain and even some snowfall in late April,” he said.

On May 4, his rye cover crop was terminated and corn planting resumed.

Spring 2019: No- and Strip-Till System has Benefits During Planting Season

A wet spring isn’t a new occurrence for Humboldt County farmer Doug Adams. But following a wet harvest adds to the concern of farmers in his area that didn’t get their fall tillage work complete.

Due to the soggy harvest season, Adams, a no- and strip-till farmer, wasn’t able to make his strips for the 2019 corn crop. If he can’t get the strips made this spring, he will resort to plan B. “If it stays wet and gets late in the planting season, I will go ahead and no-till the corn crop this spring,” he said. “The advantage of the strips for the corn is the warmer soil temperature in the seed zone. But if we’re delayed, soil temperature shouldn’t be a concern.”

Adams also uses the strips for fertilizer placement, but this will be broadcast if Mother Nature forces his hand. “My plan is to take a look at those fields by pulling some soil samples to see how broadcasting affected the fertility. I want to make sure I’m replacing what was removed in those fields.”